HUG Hive - Closure checklist

This guide is for grant recipients whose projects finished on or before 31 March 2025. 
For projects delivering with extenuating circumstances, please visit our extenuating circumstances checklist webpage.

This is a live webpage and additional activities and resources may be added over time. 

  • Last update: Friday 11 July 2025
  • Content last updated: Additional step included for data declaration (step 12), commentary corrected around final and reconciled project reports and further detail noted for Annex A (step 14)

Step 1

To-do

  • Complete all delivery works (‘tools down’) by Monday 31 March

  • All energy efficiency measures must be fully installed in eligible homes by Monday 31 March 
  • Finishing works (e.g. decorating, scaffold removal) can be completed after this date, but no new measures can be installed 
  • Notify your SPOC that all delivery activity has ended

Once complete, TrustMark and DMS reconciliation will begin.

Step 2

To-do

  • Update your Fraud Risk Assessment (FRA) and Fraud Management Plan (FMP) by Monday 31 March

Ensure that your FRA and FMP reflects: 

  • any updated risks or incidents 
  • lessons from project delivery 
  • mitigation actions taken 

Use the latest templates provided by the delivery partner, email [email protected] 

Resources to support this activity can be found on the fraud and error webpage on the Hive and fraud countermeasures webpage on the Hive. 

Step 3

To-do

  • Lodge all measures on TrustMark

  • Every completed measure must be formally entered into the TrustMark data warehouse 
  • This is important as each measure must have a lodgement ID to be included in your final report (see step 11)
  • If you’re unsure whether a measure has been correctly lodged, ask your installer or SPOC to help verify 
  • Measures must be uploaded to the data warehouse within 20 working days of installation, with all lodgements due no later than Wednesday 2 July 2025

Step 4

To-do

  • Submit your data reports via the DMS portal by the 10th working day of the month

Upcoming deadlines for closure phase monthly reports are:

  • due by Thursday 15 May 
  • due by Saturday 14 June 

Reports should be submitted directly to the department via the DMS portal using the latest data template as published on the Gov.UK website. 

  • Please note that the data template has been updated for reports submitted from May 2025 onwards

If you need guidance on uploading or correcting data, please speak with your SPOC. If errors are found, your SPOC will contact you to make corrections. 

Visit our monthly reporting resources webpage on the HUG Hive for more information.

Step 5

Ongoing

  • Support reconciliation activities

Once all final reports and TrustMark lodgements are submitted, we (Salix) will carry out a data reconciliation check. 

This ensures your delivery, financial and lodgement data all match before your project is reviewed by the closure board. 

What you need to do: 

  • confirm all data is submitted and accurate 
  • respond to any queries within a reasonable timeframe
  • be available for a call or email follow-up if needed 

Why this matters: 

  • any unresolved issues may delay your closure and final payment 
  • your project cannot proceed to the closure board until this step is complete 

For more information, please visit the data reconciliation webpage on the HUG Hive.

This activity is expected to take place from May and July 2025

Step 6

To-do

  • Submit any batch amendments via the automated batch system (ABS) no later than Friday 23 May

Step 7

If applicable

  • Resolve and close any legacy fraud cases 

If any fraud or compliance cases were opened during delivery, they must be resolved or reported as closed. 

Provide any final updates to the delivery partner by emailing [email protected]  

Resources to support this activity can be found on the fraud and error webpage on the Hive and fraud countermeasures webpage on the Hive. 

Step 8

If applicable

  • Report any new or significant fraud cases

  • If you’re aware of any unresolved risks or recent fraudulent activity, you must report it 
  • Cases should be reported no later than Friday 30 May 2025
  • To submit updated documents to the delivery partner, email  [email protected]  

Step 9

If applicable

  • Support verification/auditor site visits

  • Some projects will be selected for verification site visits 
  • You may be asked to provide access to project documentation, key personnel or households (with permission) 
  • This activity is expected to take place between May to July 2025
  • Your SPOC will give notice and help you prepare 

Step 10

If applicable

  • Receive any top-up and final payments

  • If applicable, final payments will be made after reconciliation of March to May data 
  • All payments will be confirmed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 

Step 11

To-do

  • Submit your final and reconciled project report 

  • Final and reconciled project reports should be submitted as soon as your works are complete and reconciled but no later than Thursday 31 July
  • Reports should be submitted directly to the department via the DMS portal
  • Guidance and a walkthrough to support you with this submission can be found on the reporting webpage on the HUG Hive 
  • Ensure your SPOC is notified once submitted
  • Please note that your project is not considered officially closed until you have received your final closure letter from the department (see step 15)

Step 12

To-do:

  • Return your data declaration to the department

  • your data declaration will be sent to you from the department after your data reconciliation is complete and you have submitted your final and reconciled report
  • this declaration confirms that your data is correct to the best of your knowledge.
  • this helps the department to create your Annex A letter, which is specific to your project and will confirm your final spend
  • there's no requirement for the CEO to sign your data declaration
  • after you have returned the data declaration this cannot be reopened so please ensure you are confident the data you have submitted in the DMS final report is comprehensive and correct
  • please consider how your internal audit fits within this process to best support you

Step 13

To-do

  • Submit your lessons learnt log

Your lessons learnt report provides essential insights to support policy and scheme development for future funding. It provides a short reflection on: 

  • what worked well 
  • what could be improved 
  • any advice for future schemes 

Please ensure you use the provided template, which can be found on the lessons learnt webpage on the Hive. This same webpage also contains guidance, tips and tricks for log completion. 

This activity should be returned via your SPOC completed no later than Thursday 31 July 2025.

Please notify your SPOC once this activity is complete. 

Step 14

To-do

  • Submit 'Annex A' (your CEO/internal auditor declaration)

  • Annex A is specific to your project and formally confirms your delivery totals and final spend
  • Once your data declaration has been returned, the department will send this to you alongside details of how this should be returned

Step 15

If applicable

  • Return any underspend to the department

If the department determines funds must be returned due to non-compliance or non-delivery, the clawback process will be initiated. Any funds that remain unused must be returned to the department. 

Work with the teams to review and respond to clawback communications. 

Further details about this process will be confirmed and communicated in due course.

Step 16

To-do

  • Receive your final closure letter 

  • Your final closure letter marks the official closure of your project 
  • This will be issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero by the end of September 2025 

HUG2 closure checklist

  • Complete all delivery works ('tools down')

  • Update your Fraud Risk Assessment (FRA) and Fraud Management Plan (FMP) 

  • Lodge all measures on TrustMark

  • Submit monthly data reports via the DMS

  • Support reconciliation activities

  • Submit any batch amendments via the automated batch system (ABS)

  • If applicable, resolve and close any legacy fraud cases 

  • If applicable, report any new or significant fraud cases

  • If applicable, support verification/auditor site visits

  • If applicable, receive final payments

  • Submit your final project report via the DMS

  • Return your data declaration to the department

  • Submit your lessons learnt log

  • Submit Annex A (your CEO/internal auditor declaration)

  • If applicable, return any underspend to the department (clawback)

  • Receive your final closure letter